Fishing Boat Destroyed In Huge Fire At Sea, Crew Rescued

Coast Guard crews responded to a boat fire approximately 40 miles from the coast of Willapa Bay, Wash., on Monday. Coast Guard Group/Air Station Astoria, Wash., received a call at 6:38 a.m. from a crewman aboard the 39-foot fishing vessel Titan reporting that the vessel was on fire. The crewman reported that they realized there was a fire in the engine room when the alternators cut out. The two crew members aboard Titan were able to relay coordinates to a Coast Guard watchstander before abandoning ship into a life raft.Coast Guard Air Station Astoria launched an MH-60 Jayhawk helicopter crew and Station Grays Harbor, Wash., launched a 47-foot motor lifeboat crew to assist. The crew aboard the charter vessel Ms. Magoo was in the vicinity and was able to recover the Titan’s crew from the water. The MH-60 Jayhawk helicopter crew arrived on scene at 7:36 a.m. The MLB crew met the Ms. Magoo at 8:10 a.m. where the crew from the Titan was transferred to the MLB and are in route to Westport, Wash. The Titan reported having approximately 400 gallons of diesel fuel. There were no reports of injuries. The cause of the fire is unknown.